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A city slicker couple turned progressive eco-farmers transform a barren orchard into a thriving landscape in this inspirational sustainability documentary.

Who hasn’t fantasised about ditching their city day job for a simpler life on the land? For John and Molly Chester, this journey begins with a barking dog, but you’ll soon wonder if they’re the ones who are barking mad.

Faced with eviction from their Los Angeles apartment block because of their rescue dog’s incessant yapping, filmmaker John and his foodie wife Molly head for California’s Ventura County, where they acquire an 80-hectare orchard with a history of bank foreclosures. Undeterred by the barren landscape, these wannabe farmers set out to regenerate the depleted soil using traditional farming methods. What follows is a fairy tale, of sorts, complete with a fairy godfather in self-proclaimed soil guru Alan York, a man who is either a biodynamic gardening genius or an idealistic crackpot with an evangelical belief in the powers of worm poo.

A feel-good tale of the triumph of eco-philosophy over agri-practicality, The Biggest Little Farm’s gentle pace, captivating cinematography and impossibly cute supporting cast remind us all that nature needs our nurture. A restorative pleasure, and one of the most delightful biggest little documentaries you'll see this year. — Lynda Hallinan

Tickets are available online through Ticketek, from the front desk at MTG or the box office at the Napier Municipal Theatre. Door sales will also be available at the MTG Century Theatre one hour prior to the screening.